Recently, Chinese Ambassador to Solomon Islands H.E. Cai Weiming published an article titled "Better Understanding of the one-China Principle"  on Solomon Star and Island Sun newspapers, comprehensively introducing the one-China principle. The full text is as follows:

Taiwan is a province of China, not a state. The one-China principle is the foundation for China to establish diplomatic relations with other countries. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Solomon Islands in 2019, Solomon Islands Government has been firmly committed to the one-China principle, which laid the foundation for our flourishing cooperation in various fields, and helped our relations stay at the forefront of China’s relations with Pacific Island countries. I would like to take this opportunity to further clarify the one-China principle, so as to help everyone better understand it.

1.What is the Origin of Taiwan Question?

Taiwan has been part of China’s territory since ancient times. Since the year of 1335, China’s central government in successive dynasties had governing jurisdiction over Taiwan. In 1894, Japan launched a war of aggression against Korea and China, forcing China to cede Taiwan and the Penghu Islands to Japan in 1895 with the Treaty of Shimonoseki. This dark period of history also certifies that Taiwan has been part of China’s territory before that Treaty.

During World War II, China, U.S. and U.K. issued the Cairo Declaration in 1943 and the Potsdam Proclamation in 1945, both clearly demanding that Taiwan and other territory that Japan stolen from China should be restored to China, which came true in 1945 after Japan surrendered. As the Chinese Civil War broke out later, the Kuomingtang Authorities fled to Taiwan. In addition, after the outbreak of the Korean war in the 1950s, the U.S. deployed army into the Taiwan Strait to impede China from liberating Taiwan. As the result, the Taiwan question emerged.

In October 1949, the Government of the People’s Republic of China was established, replacing the government of the Republic of China as the sole legal government representing the whole of China and the only legitimate representative of China in the international arena. It must be pointed out that this was the change of government, but the status of China as a subject under international law remained the same, China’s sovereignty and its inherent territory have thereby remained unchanged. Naturally, the government of the People's Republic of China fully enjoys and exercises China’s sovereignty, which includes the sovereignty over Taiwan. In summary, although complete unification of both sides of the Taiwan Strait has not been achieved, China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity have never been divided, Both the mainland and Taiwan belong to a single China de jure and de facto, and that has never changed.

2.What is the meaning of UN General Assembly Resolution 2758?

In 1971, the 26th session of the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758, which “decides to restore all its rights to the People's Republic of China and to recognize the representatives of its Government as the only legitimate representatives of China to the United Nations, and to expel forthwith the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek from the place which they unlawfully occupy at the United Nations and in all the organizations related to it.”

By that time the Government of the Republic of China was no longer a legitimate government, and Taiwan was under the control of Chiang Kai-shek's regime, so the resolution used the wording “the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek” which is a precise and accurate legal wording. The resolution not only completely, politically, legally, and procedurally resolved the issue of the representation of the whole China in the United Nations, including Taiwan, but also made clear that China holds one single seat in the UN, leaving no room for “two China”, or“one China, one Taiwan”

After the adoption of UNGA Resolution 2758, all official UN documents referred to Taiwan as “Taiwan, province of China”. It was clearly stated in the official legal opinions of the Office of Legal Affairs of the UN Secretariat that “the United Nations considers ‘Taiwan’ as a province of China with no separate status”and “authorities in ‘Taipei’ are not considered to enjoy any form of government status ’.

The United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 restored the lawful seat of the People’s Republic of China in the UN, which is of great significance both to China and the world. Any attempt to challenge UNGA Resolution 2758 constitutes not only a challenge to China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity but also a challenge to the authority of the UN as well as the post-World War II international order. Reversing the course of history is absurd and highly dangerous.

3.What's the connotation of the one-China principle?

There is but one China in the world, Taiwan is part of China and the government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. This is the most integrated, accurate and the exclusive expression of the one-China principle, which has no room or reason to have other definition. The one-China principle is a universal consensus of the international community and a basic norm in international relations.

Based on the one-China principle, 183 countries in the world, including Solomon Islands, have established diplomatic relations with China. All these countries have made commitments to China not to establish official relations with Taiwan, not to engage in any form of official exchanges with Taiwan, not to establish official institutions in Taiwan or allow Taiwan to establish official institutions in their countries, not to negotiate agreements with sovereign implications or official nature with Taiwan. Those who connive at and support “Taiwan Independence” are undermining China’s sovereignty. Those countries who insist on maintaining official ties with Taiwan are interfering in China’s internal affairs.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries, Solomon Islands Government has firmly upheld the one-China's principle. During Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele’s visit to China last year, Solomon Islands affirmed its commitment to the one-China principle in our joint Communique by“acknowledging that there is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory and the government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, opposing to any forms of “Taiwan Independence” and supporting the government of the People’s Republic of China’s efforts to accomplish national reunification”. SI Prime Minister Office has also made several statements on firmly upholding the one-China principle.

4.What is China’s Stance on Taiwan’s Engagement with International Organizations?

China’s position on the Taiwan region’s engagement in the activities of international organizations is consistent and clear. That is, it must be handled in line with the one-China principle and UNGA Resolution 2758.

China is willing to further enhance our cooperation with Solomon Islands on the basis of the one-China principle, for better benefit and well-being of the people in our two countries and the region.